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Article History

Received: 9 March 2022

Accepted: 30 October 2022

First Online: 9 December 2022

Declarations

:

: This study was conducted in accordance with relevant animal-welfare guidelines (ASAB, 2020 []). Our experiments excluded direct physical contact between fish, removing injury risks, and staged contests were kept brief, reducing related stress levels. By minimising the number and duration of transfers and by transporting fish in water, we limited handling stress. Veterinary inspections by DHSSPS, Northern Ireland, deemed no need for licensing and an institutional ethical approval was acquired (No.: QUB-BS-AREC-17-004). Animals were kept after the end of the study for separate non-invasive tests.

: Not applicable.

: The authors have no competing interests.